Chapter 83

Chishui Chong said coldly, “Yan Chaosheng, you have some nerve.”

Shaoyou heard the voice and withdrew his hand.

He had long anticipated this—the soul-bonding ceremony would inevitably be interrupted.

He had even wondered: if Yan Chaosheng didn’t come, would the ceremony have proceeded smoothly? But there were no what-ifs in life.

Despite rushing desperately, Yan Chaosheng had arrived just as they were about to complete the ritual.

Shaoyou lowered his gaze to the girl beside him, Liu Shuang.

Her hand was still in his.

For a moment, he wanted to tighten his grip, but in the end, he slowly released her.

Liu Shuang was taken aback, looking up at him in confusion.

Shaoyou said, “He’s here. I’m fine. Go do what you need to do.”

Liu Shuang pressed her lips together and nodded lightly.

This was the moment she had been waiting for.

Her emotions were even more complicated than Shaoyou’s.

Thinking of what was about to happen, she turned her head and met the gaze of Yan Chaosheng, who stood atop a demonic bird.

Clad in black battle armor, he looked down at all the immortals from the back of Qingluan.

Facing their scorn and curses, his expression remained icy and silent.

The demons behind him wore grave expressions, their eyes sharp with suppressed grief.

Yan Chaosheng and his demons’ demeanor caused the voices of the crowd to gradually fade.

Liu Shuang had not expected to see him like this.

He had stormed in with murderous intent, his chilling aura putting all the immortals on guard.

A battle could break out at any moment.

What had happened to Yan Chaosheng?

To lure him into the trap, the defenses of Kongsang had been deliberately relaxed today, making it easy for him to break in.

But the hatred he bore toward the immortals was almost tangible, as if he wished to slaughter every last one of them.

When their eyes met from afar, the coldness in Yan Chaosheng’s gaze gradually softened, replaced by a glimmer of warmth and hope.

He leaped down from Qingluan’s back and walked toward her.

Ignoring the murmurs of the immortals and Chishui Chong, his eyes were fixed solely on her.

“Liu Shuang, I’ve come to take you with me. Come with me.”

The moment these words left his mouth, everyone understood his purpose today.

Gasps of shock filled the air. The audacious Demon Lord Yan Chaosheng had come to steal a bride!

As he strode forward, the immortals tensed, ready to summon their weapons at any moment.

The demons on Qingluan, however, watched with bated breath.

Unlike the immortals, they knew the truth—Yan Chaosheng had been struck multiple times by the Xuanyuan Sword, his demonic energy already dissipating.

Only through sheer willpower had he remained conscious long enough to reach Kongsang, barely making it in time for Liu Shuang’s wedding.

Fearing the immortals would notice his injuries and make escape impossible, he had used demonic arts to conceal his wounds.

Beneath his armor were gaping holes, his body drenched in blood.

At that time, Liu Shuang didn’t know Yan Chaosheng was injured.

That short distance he walked toward her demanded unimaginable courage—and the resolve to face death.

Behind her, Chishui Chong’s voice rang out as a reminder: “Liu Shuang!”

Her father was warning her not to forget—today was a trap to lure Yan Chaosheng.

He had already compromised by giving her control of the formation’s Fuxi Seal.

She could not hesitate now.

The Fuxi Seal in her sleeve pulsed with divine power, ready to be unleashed.

She stood still, watching the man approaching her, unable to move.

Yet before Yan Chaosheng could reach her, a sword flashed through the air, blocking his path.

A sudden turn of events—Bai Yuxiao’s eyes burned with hatred, his immortal sword cold and sharp, aimed straight at Yan Chaosheng’s life.

“You vile beast! You killed my elder brother, and now you dare step foot in Kongsang?”

Yan Chaosheng halted.

The demons behind him tensed, their fists clenched, sweat dripping down their backs.

If anyone realized Yan Chaosheng was severely injured, their lord would be doomed.

They braced themselves to intervene.

Yan Chaosheng’s face remained calm.

With a metallic hum, his silver halberd clashed against Bai Yuxiao’s sword.

The halberd, forged from the soul of Qingwen, weighed tens of thousands of pounds.

Streaks of silver light flashed through the air as the two figures darted across the sky, their movements too fast to follow.

Yet in mere moments, one of them spat blood and plummeted from the sky.

Yan Chaosheng, clad in black armor, descended after him.

His halberd swept down, and Bai Yuxiao barely managed to block it with his sword.

The impact sent a violent tremor through his arm, nearly forcing him to drop his weapon.

Yan Chaosheng pressed down mercilessly, his eyes icy as he stared at Bai Yuxiao.

He couldn’t afford to show weakness, nor could he reveal the agony of his wounds.

The slightest slip would give the immortals an opening to swarm and kill him before he could reach Liu Shuang.

Bai Yuxiao looked up, hatred burning in his eyes.

Two years ago, he could have crippled this lowly demon’s cultivation with a flick of his wrist.

Even earlier, during the Kongsang tournament, they had been evenly matched for a time.

But now, facing Yan Chaosheng was like facing the wrath of the heavens—utterly hopeless.

Forget killing him; Yan Chaosheng could have ended his life mid-air with a single finger.

Yet Bai Yuxiao couldn’t stay calm.

This man had murdered his brother!

Fuheng and the other demons clenched their fists, trembling with fear.

Seeing Yan Chaosheng defeat Bai Yuxiao without revealing his injuries, they exhaled in shaky relief.

Thank the heavens.

Bai Yuxiao was still young—no match for a prodigy like Feng Fuming, nor did he wield an ancient divine weapon like the Xuanyuan Sword.

Yan Chaosheng yanked Bai Yuxiao up, intending to use him as a hostage.

“I have no desire to kill him,” he said coldly.

“Give me Chishui Liu Shuang, and I’ll release him immediately.”

Chishui Chong’s face darkened.

He hadn’t expected Bai Yuxiao to lose control.

Glancing at Patriarch Bai, he feared for the young man’s life—the Bai Clan had already lost one son.

He couldn’t let their second heir perish as well.

His hesitation only fueled the immortals’ fury.

“Arrogant brat! How dare you speak such insolence and harm others in Kongsang!”

“Today, you will not leave alive!”

Yan Chaosheng sneered.

“Enough nonsense. Do you want him to live or die?”

His halberd pressed down, drawing a thin line of blood on Bai Yuxiao’s neck.

Demons were ruthless by nature.

Knowing that reckless words could get Bai Yuxiao killed, the surrounding outcry dimmed.

The immortals looked to Chishui Chong for guidance.

No matter what, they couldn’t let Yan Chaosheng take their young miss!

Fuheng and Qingluan grew even more anxious.

They couldn’t afford to drag this out—if Chishui Chong realized Yan Chaosheng was injured, all would be lost.

Taking Bai Yuxiao hostage seemed the best option.

But then, Bai Yuxiao suddenly burst into laughter.

“Using me to threaten the Lord and the Young Miss? Dream on, you beast!”

“Yuxiao!”

“Young Master!”

Liu Shuang saw Bai Yuxiao’s intent and rushed forward.

“Bai Yuxiao, don’t!”

He threw himself straight at Yan Chaosheng’s halberd, preferring mutual destruction over surrender.

Just before the blade could sever his neck, Yan Chaosheng hesitated, recalling the day he had killed Bai Zhuixu.

Meeting Liu Shuang’s gaze, he clenched his jaw and withdrew his weapon.

No one had expected Yan Chaosheng to spare Bai Yuxiao.

The young man broke free, and Patriarch Bai swiftly pulled him to safety.

Every demon, including Fuheng, paled in horror.

Yan Chaosheng closed his eyes briefly.

He never regretted his choices.

Turning back to Liu Shuang, he said hoarsely, “Come with me.”

Liu Shuang had already stepped forward.

She hadn’t expected him to let Bai Yuxiao go.

She remembered their first encounter in this life—Yan Chaosheng, his cultivation destroyed, had lain battered on the lotus platform, his eyes filled with hatred.

Today, Bai Yuxiao should have been his best chance to escape.

Yet he had spared him.

Her heart trembled.

Looking up at Yan Chaosheng, she understood why.

On that rainy night outside the cave, fingers entwined with hers, he had promised: “I’ll do my best not to harm those you care about.”

He had kept his word.

And she wished he hadn’t.

Hearing his rough plea for her to follow him, she felt an inexplicable pang of sorrow for him.

She would have preferred him to be selfish and cold, making it easier for her to do what came next.

Once again, she realized—this was the young Yan Chaosheng, not the man who had once betrayed her.

His love was pure as snow, blazing as fire.

Deep down, she knew she couldn’t go with him. Worse—Yan Chaosheng wouldn’t leave today.

He would remain forever, slumbering beneath the Endless Sea.

Yet the Yan Chaosheng before her knew none of this.

He couldn’t see the storm raging in her heart as he gripped her hand.

“Let’s go. I’ll take you back to the Demon Palace.”

The immortals watched in stunned silence as the demon led their young miss away.

The Heavenly Palace was eerily quiet.

Even Madam Zi couldn’t stay seated.

“Shuang’er! What are you doing?”

Mi Chu’s eyes flickered with suspicion.

Hidden in her sleeve, her fingers tightened around the Twin Phoenix Hairpin.

According to the plan, Heavenly Lord Feng Fuming should have ambushed Yan Chaosheng and his army.

Why was he here at Liu Shuang and Shaoyou’s soul-bonding ceremony instead?

Her gaze swept over Yan Chaosheng and the other demons.

A possibility struck her.

Had they fought their way out?

Sharp-eyed and privy to more information than most, she detected no obvious flaws.

Yet the thought made her lips curl into a faint smile.

If that were true… then what came next would spiral beyond control.

Wojiang fumed, his beard bristling. “Young Master!” he barked at Shaoyou.

How could their genius heir, the pride of the Jimo Clan, stand by as his bride was stolen right before his eyes?

Shaoyou pressed his lips together, silent.

He was one of the few who knew what was coming.

His gaze remained fixed on Liu Shuang.

Though countless eyes were on her, only he understood the turmoil in her heart.

He knew—to protect Kongsang and the Eight Wilderness, she had no other choice.

As the tension reached its peak, Chishui Chong, instead of acting, suddenly laughed.

“Yan Chaosheng, do you truly believe Kongsang is defenseless? If I hadn’t allowed it, do you think you could have set foot here? Liu Shuang, if you won’t act, must I do it myself?”

His words sent a ripple of unease through the crowd.

The demons, already wary of how easily they had entered Kongsang, now understood—this was all a trap.

And Liu Shuang… was part of it?

Yan Chaosheng’s grip on her hand tightened.

Slowly, he looked down at her, as if he hadn’t heard Chishui Chong.

“Don’t be afraid,” he murmured.

“I can take you away. You’ll be safe.”

Even now, he clung to self-deception, believing in her, believing he could save her.

Liu Shuang knew—if she didn’t act, Chishui Chong would.

And what awaited Yan Chaosheng wouldn’t be mere sealing, but execution.

Head bowed, she began prying his fingers loose.

He held on desperately, unwilling to let go, his grip almost painful—as if he already sensed the truth but refused to accept it.